Time system.



A55. RADTKE Tl ME SYSTEM. (APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 191 0.

Patented May 23, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. A. R-ADTKE. I

TIM-E SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, I9I0.

- Patented May 23., 1916.

3 SHEETS- SHEET 2.

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A.A.RA'DIKE.4

TIME SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILEYD APR: 9, 1910.

Patented May 23, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT; onnronf ALBERT A. RADTKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR TO ELECTRIC 'JIIME RECOIl'DEB COMPANY; OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS TIME SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, ALBERT-A. RADTKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicagoycounty of Cook, State of Illinois, 5 have invented certain new and useful Im- 'provements in Tim'e Systems, of which the following'is a specification. i

The main b ects of the present invention are'to provide a system wherein. an'electriutilized to control devices located at a distance; to provide electrically driven means for delivering cur-.

rentimpulses to a distribution circuit at 15 intervals recurring with accurate regularity;

to. provide a time system which is automatic action, and derives its motive power from a source of electrical energy;

time device having an electrically. driven means operatively connected to govern the movements of the switch mechanism; to provide automatic means-forwinding the spring of the time-measuring device; and to pro vide other details of construction and special arrangements of parts whereby reliability and -efliciency are-insured. c

A specific construotlonemb ddying thi's'in- I vention is illustrated in-the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of'the main or master instrument fromiwhich the current I impulses are sent out. --F ig l-l2 iSja sectional plan of the sarnfon the lines of Fig."

1. 1Fig; 3'is a' diagram of connections. Fig. j l-is an enlarged detail of; the control mecha- -nism used to govern' the movements of cerf tain of the element'sshown inFig. 1. Fig. 5 "'s avie w of theimaster instrument, as s en from-below; Fig; I6 is a sectional elevation through the main' shaft of themaster inth constructionshown,theapparatusis withla supporting plate '1, adapted hment toajwa'l'l. This plate may be circular in'outline,* and may have a screw- 1 threadedperipheryfor the more ready aty 1 'tachment'iofa protective cover or dome, not sho wnfl v I 1 K Projecting from the side of. base 1 is a 'shelf2 of magnetizable material, such as soft iron,-.preferably laminatedand having apertures within which a plurality of magnetizmg coils are seated. Thisiiro'n shelf serves ,55 as a magnetic coils, and also cally operated time-measuring device isa plurahty of secondary to provide a switch mechanism and timemeasuring Spe'cification of Letters Patent. Patented May 23, 1916 Application filed April9, 1910. Seria1No.554,322. I

serves as a support for a pair of vertical standards 3 and 4, and an octagonal standard 5. These standards carry at their top a horizontal platform 6, on which is mounted a clock escapement 7, which need not here-be descrlbed in detail. This escapement is op f eratively connected with a pinion 8 A suspended belowplatform 6w by a suitable bracket. The pinion meshes with a gear 9, wh1chcarr es on its under surface a sprin' box 10, within which is a helical cloc spring'lO, having one-of-its'ends connected to the box, and its other end connected to a bushing mounted rigidly ona shaft 11.

box 10 are free to turn about the'shaft. A pm 12 PI'OJGCtS'dQWII from -the spring box for engagement 'with :other parts. of the mechanism.. i I

The escapement' and its cooperating gears and clock spring above referred to, may be regarded as constituting a time-measuring device, efiective to regulate the speed with which the device performs its'workJ The main shaft may be regarded as-the winding means for the clock spring, I

v The driving means whereby .the main shaft ll'can be rotated tokcep the spring of the time-measuring, devicealways under tension is-here shown as electrically operated. It

comprises an 'electro mo'tive device having three coils or;windings'13,{14 and 15, seated in apertures in the laminated iron shelf 2, and having cylindrical armatures 16, 17 and .18, each movable in its respective coil, and

each provided withfa link which is con? ;nected to a common crank pin 19, carried on the lower side of a disk 20. r This diskis rigidly secured to the lower end of the vertical shaft-I1, and constitutes the conical 'member' of'a ballrbearing used to. hold the shaft in position 'Each of thewindings has one of its ends connected toa metal ring 21, serving as a cross connection "or junction joint for the coils. Mounted above the'windingslof this electro-moti've deviceisaswitch mechanism comprising a laminated bridge '22,'mountedto rotate withthe main shaft,

and constituting a switch or cross connection for certain other partsof the switch mechanism. 'The laminations of theswitch are riveted to aboss 23, carried onthe side of a brass collar 24, which envelops the main shaft and turns therewith, but is insulated therefrom by a lava bushing 25. The point of attachment toboss 23 is at the approximate middle of the laminated switch, so that the outer ends of the laminations press downward with equal force on the parts on which they bear. v

cooperatively related with the rotary switch is, a dial consisting of a horizontal plate 26, of insulating material, carrying on its face aslip ring 27, and three metal scgments, 28, 29 and 30. One end of the rotary switch makes contact with the slip ring and its other end makes contact successively with the segments. The contacting ends of the switch are broad enough to bridge the short gap between adjacent segments, so thatthe circuit through the switch will not be inter rupted when the switch moves from one segment to the next.

The segments 28, 29 and 30 are connected respectively to the adjacent ends of the windings 13,,1-l and 15. The slip ring 27 is provided with a current supply wire 31, which leads out through the side of the insulated plate 26 and through a. tubular passage, and then down through the hollow in terior of the hexagonal standard 5 to a suitable insulator 32, through which it may pass out for connection to a source of electrical energy. Current coming from this source through conductor 31 to ring 27 can pass through the switch 2 to one of the segments, say segment 28, and thence through winding 13 to the connecting ring 21, and from that ring back to the source by way of a conductor 33. The magnetism thereby set up by winding 13 tends to draw the armature 16 inward and so tends to rotate the main shaft and shift the switch or bridge 22 to an adjacent segment. In a certain sense, the coils and the switch mechanism may be regarded as a motor adapted to take current through its threecoils in succession, and adapted to shift connections to the coils in such a way that continuous rotation will result. The switch mechanism has however a function other than that of shifting current from one coil to another, and in order that it may fulfil this additional function, the segments 28, 29 and 30' are provided respectively with conductors 34, 35and 36, which lead down through the insulating disk 26 and through the iron field frame 2, and then outfrom' the instrument, together with conductor 33, to serve as distributing conductors for the other instruments, which are to be connected thereto,

and receive current therefrom. Each time the rotaryswitch 22 shifts connections from one coil of the electromoti've device to another; it also shifts connections from one distributing conductor to another; thereby interrupting the flow of current in one, and establishing the liow in the next. It will be seen that if these periodic changes in current in the distributing conductors can be made to follow each other at regular and predetermined intervals, any number of time-indicating instruments, or the like, connected across the conductors, can be actuated in synchronism.

The control mechanism whereby the movements of the electro-motive device and the switch mechanism are made dependent on the time-measuring device, comprises a cam 37 mounted to rotate freely on the main shaft and having a short slot 38 for the reception of the pin 12 which projects down from the spring box of the time-measuring device. This pin moves at constant speed, and therefore steadily rotates the cam about the main shaft 11. The cam may have three arms, as shown in Fig. 4, and may rotate counter-clockwise. The control mechanism also includes a tripping member 39, having projecting horns 40 and 41, which embrace opposite sides of the cam 37, and carry small rollers for engagement with the periphery of the cam. Atthe opposite end, this tripping member is pivotally mounted at 12, and carries a pallet 43, having convergent faces 14: and 45. The control mechanism also includes a holding member 46, having at one end a pair of convergent arms with contact points -17 and 18, arranged to strike respectively against the pallet faces 44 and -15, and to sl1p therefrom when the pallet swings about pivot 12. This holding member 46 is pivotally mounted near its center, and has an opening with irregular edges forming two shoulders 49 and 50. Immediately below this opening is a tl-tooth pinion 51, having three pins which project upward into the opening of the holding member in such position that they canstrike in succes sion against the shoulders 49 and 50. Mesh ing with the pinion 51 and urged forward by the electromotive device is a (S-tooth gear 52, having its teeth arranged in pairs, and having rigid connection with the main or driving shaft 11. This control mechanism interposed between the time-nmasuring device and the electromotive device may be regarded as a holding means for preventing movement of the electro-motive device, and its switch, except at such time intervals as may be prescribed by the time-measuring device.

The system wherein the above described apparatus 'may be used is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 3 where A represents a rotary switch mechanism, B a source of electrical energy, and C and D, secondary units such as clocks, time stamps or the like, connected across the distributing conductors of the system. Each'of these secondary units may be of the general type described in United States Patent No. 921,280, issued to me May 11,, 1909, and may com prise a rotary armature 53' having polar extensions in operative.relation to a' plurality of magnetizing coils 54,' each con-- nected'to a distributing conductor and all arranged in such a Way that when the coils are magnetized in succession, the rotary armature will turn. By suitably timing the supply of current to the respective coils, the time of rotation of the'armaturc can be accurately. governed, and the secondary unit may be made to follow the movements of the switch mechanism at A. If. the

. switch mechanism'shifts segments once each minute, the-secondary units will also move once each minute, and can be regarded as synchronized ;with the master time-Incas uring instrument once each minute.

The souree-of current B maybe a storage battery or a dynamo electric machine, either direct or alternating current. 1 It delivers current through conductor 31' to slip ring 27, as heretofore recited, and its other terminal is-connected through conductor 33, to the ring21, forming the cross connection for the three coils of the'electrofmotive device. That same terminal of the source. is also connected to a common return conductor 55 leading from all the secondary units which are'connected to the distributingconductors. I o v The operation of the system is as follows: The escapement- 7 allows pinion 8 and gear 9 to rotate at constant speed -under the driving impulse ofthe energy initially stored inv the clock spring carried in spring box 10. Th ej p in -12, depending from the spring box, movesat constant speed, and

turns the cam 37 on its supporting shaft.

When the cam reaches such position that the roller-tipped horn .41 can move from the periphery of the cam toward the shaft,

. itidoes so, and the tripping member 39 a slight swinging'movement about its cen swings slightlybn'it'spivot 42, and shifts the pallet surface 44 sufliciently to allow the "point 47 toslip ofl:'- the edge of the surface, thus giving the holding member. 46

tral pivot. This movementis'enough to disengage the shoulder 49 from .its contacting pin allowing the pinion 51 to rotate a distauce corresponding to onetooth, or until the nekt pin strikes again st1 the shoulder 50.

When the "pin. does soistrikebnthe shoulder 50, it swings thej holding member 46 back beyond its initialposition until the hooked end 48 comes incontact with the pallet face 4L5, Its; pressure, on that face swings the tripping member 39 back until itsroller 4Q bears on the..=periphery of cam 37;: The movementof pinion -51 above described serves, to releasefthe 6-tooth gear serves to prevent free rotation of the shaft under the continuously operative torque of .As "previously stated, .this gear is .mounted rigidly on the main shaft, and

the three actuating coils. But when the 6-tooth 'gear 52 is released by pinion 51,

- the scarcity of teeth on its periphery allows it to move a considerable distance, giving the main shaft a quick, partial turn, and moving. the switch member 22. This shifts connections, not only to the coils of the electromotive device, but also to the distributing conductors. After this of the switch member, the shaft remains statlonary until the time-measuring device hasturned the cam 37 into position to release thehorn 40 of the tripping member 39, and. thereupon the control mechanism again allows the B-tooth gear 521:0 rotate, but this time the rotation is but slight corresponding to the angular width of the short Every swing of the shaft winds the spring of the time-measuring device. By so proportioning the escapementj and the gears f ofthe time-measuring device, the long swings of the shaft may come once a minute, thereby producing current impulses in the distribution circuit, which also come once a minute, and which produce movement in the secondary units once a minute. Whether these secondary units be clocks or time-stamps, or whether they be something quite diiferentin. function, but still requir-- ing actuation at definite and predetermined 1 time intervals, they can be regulated all '-together by the means above described, and

all will take their speed of motion from the main or master time-measuring device.

In the claims I have used the words lost motion -mechanism to include those elementsfor instance associated with the element 39.-

In a certain sense, the apparatus of Fig. 1 may be regarded as a self-winding master clock, electrically operated, and capable of maintaining a plurality of secondary .clocks in synchronism with one another,

and substantially in synchronism with itself.

.What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is: 1. The combination of a rotary electromotive device, a rotary switchmechanism continuously transmitting current thereto, connections between said switch mechanism and said electro-motive device to insure rotation of said switch by sa1d,electro-motive device each time said electro-motive T device rotates atime-measurin device and a a a control mechanism operatively connected between said tune-measuring device and switch mechanism moves.

3. The combination of a source of electrical energy, distributing conductors, time measuring devices energized thereby, rotary switch mechanism adapted to deliver energy from said source to said conductors in suc cession, a main time-measuring device, and

means energized by current from said source and mechanically connected to move said switch and to deliver power to said timemeasuring device intermittently.

4. The combination ofan elcctro-motivc device having a driving shaft, a source of current for said device, a rotary switch mounted to turn with said shaft, control mechanism connected to govern movement of .said shaft, anda time-measuring device connected to actuate said control mechanism, and having a spring connected to said-shaft and periodically wound by movement thereof.

5. The combination of a plurality of coils, a plurality of armatures, one for each of said coils, a shaft, pivoted'links connecting said armatures to drive said shaft, a rotary switch mounted on said shaft, time-controlled means for intermittently delivering current to said coils in succession by way of said switch. and a driving connection be tween said shaft and said time-controlled means.

6. The combination of a plurality of coils, armatures for said coils, a rotary shaft, means for connecting said armatures to rotate said shaft, a rotary switch carried by said shaft, means for delivering current to said coils through said switch, and means for limiting free rotation of said switch at predetermined time intervals.

7.-The combination of a plurality of windings, armatures for said windings, a shaft operatively connected for rotation by said armatures, switch mechanism actuated by said shaft, means for delivering current to said windings through said switch mechanism, distributing conductors successively connected in circuit with said switch mech anism, and mechanical means for holding said switch mechanism at predetermined time intervals.

8. The combination of switch mechanism, a shaft for moving said switch mechanism,

means continuously operative for inducing movement of said shaft, a time-measuring device, a cam operatively connected to said time-measuring device and moved thereby, a tripping member actuated by said cam, a holding member in position to be released by said tripping member, a pinion periodically held by said holding member, and a gear meshing with said pinion and operatively connected to said shaft to permit movement thereof when said tripping member releases said holding member.

9; The combination of a shaft, means normally tending to rotate said shaft, a cam mounted to turn about said shaft, a. timemeasuringdevice having a winding spring operatively connected to said shaft, said time-measuring device being operatively connected to rotate said cam at predetermined speed, a' tripping member having horns at either side of said cam, and having a pallet withv convergent faces, a holding member having arms adapted to swing into contact with said faces, a pinion having pins adapted to move into contact successivcly with shoulders on said holding memher, and a gear meshing with said pinion and mounted on said shaft, said gear having its teeth spaced irregularly.

10. The combination of an escapement, a

-I ear operatively connected therewith, a

winding spring carried by said gear, a wlnding shaft connected to one end of said spring, a cam mounted to rotate on said shaft and having operative connection with said gear, tripping means actuated by said cam, holding means released by said tripping means, a gear on said shaft and operatively connected with said holding means, a,

switch on said shaft, and an electro-motive device having windings which receive current in succession through said switch, said electro-motivedevice having means for turning said shaft.

11. The combination of a plurality of coils seated in a magnetizable frame, armatures for said coils, a rotary shaft, links operatively connecting said arnia-tures to said shaft, a switch movable with said shaft, means for conducting current to said coils in succession by way of said switch, a gear mounted on said shaft, :1 time-measuring device having a spring connected at one end to said shaft, a cam normally moved by said time-measuring device, a tripping member actuated by said cam, a holding member in position to be released by said tripping member, and a pinion engaging with said gear and periodically released by saidholding member. I

- 12. The combination of distributing conductors, a source of electrical energy, switching means for delivering current from said source" to said distributing conductors in succession, a motive device energized by current from said source by way of said switching means, and continuously tending to Inbve said SWltClllIlglmQfHlS, and means for automatically releasing said switching switch, electromagnetic means for actuating.

said shaft, a 'lost motion control mechanism interposed between said shaft and said switch, and an escapement mechanism to whereby said switch controls the energiza-- control said lost motion mechanism.

15. A master mechanism of the character described having a switch adapted for pe-' riodic movement, a shaft carrying said switch, electromagnetic means for actuating said shaft, a-lost motion control mechanism interposed between said shaft and said switch, an escapement-mechanism to control said lost *motlon' mechanism, and means tion of said electromagnetic means. I

16. A -master mechanism .of thecharacter described havinga switch adapted for. periodic movement, a shaft carrying said switch, electromagnetic means for actuating said shaft, a lost motion control mechanism interposed between said shaft and said 7 switch, an escapement mechanism to control said lost motion mechanism, and means whereby said switch controls the energization of said electromagnetic means, said electromagnetic means including a plurality of coils adapted for energization in rotation. 17. A master mechanism of the character described having a switch adapted for periodic movement, a shaft carrying said switch, electromagnetic means for actuating said shaft, a lost motion control mechanism interposed between said shaft and said switch, and time controlled mechanism to control said lost motion mechanism.

18. In a device of the character described the combination with a watch spring, electromagnetic means for periodically winding said watch spring, a contact making device to control the o eration of said electromagnetic means, an "controlling mechanism under the control of said spring to control said contact making device, said means including a Genevawheel mechanism.

T .19. In a device of the character described the combination with a watch spring, electromagnetic means for periodically winding said watch spring, a contact makingdevice to control the operation of said electromag netic means and driven by said electromag netic means, and controlling mechanism un- 'der the control of said spring to control said contact making device.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of April, A. D. 1910.

ALBERT A. RADTKE.

Witnesses:

DAISY M. EAGER, ABBA B. MARVIN, 

